Big Clean Co: Is it ‘normal’ to tidy up a messy house before a cleaner arrives?

A cleaner has shared her opinion on whether it is ‘normal’ for clients to clean their houses before the professionals arrive – and the answer is more complex than you would think.

Kacie Stephens, who runs The Big Clean Co in Melbourne, admitted that it was not ‘unusual’ for her clients to clean their houses based on their budget and priorities.

‘I am sure a lot of people do at least something to prepare but I also know that our clients with the higher budgets (we have houses we clean 2x per week) do choose to get those housekeeping tasks done because they can afford to,’ she said in an Instagram post.

Kacie does not consider a client leaving their dishes in the sink or clothes on the floor ‘lazy’ – as she has found people say on social media – because all of The Big Clean Co’s clients have more important things to do in their life than clean.

‘That’s why they contract us to do that for them and what gives our job more meaning – we’re the ones who ensure our clients have that time to focus on those things that are more important.’

And as for cleaning beforehand, it simply depends on what people have in mind for the hired help. 

‘For some people they don’t have it in their budget and don’t want to pay for the cleaner to do last night’s chores and pick their kid’s stuff up off the floor.’

‘They do that stuff I advance so the cleaner can just come in and focus on cleaning all of the surfaces.’

However, some of Kacie’s clients are on the other end of the spectrum entirely. 

‘They just leave they house as is and walk out of the door – and they’re going to come home later and their house is going to be sparkling.’

A woman in the comments made the distinction between ‘cleaning’ and ‘tidying’ for when her housekeeper comes over – and many agreed with her argument.

‘I don’t clean as such before our lovely cleaner comes – I tidy. I put things away and clear surfaces so she can clean.’

She went on, ‘My husband and I have this argument all the time. He asks why I’m cleaning before the cleaner comes, but I’m not! I’m tidying!’ 

‘I don’t want the cleaner spending time picking stuff up off the floor and moving things off benches to clean. I also try to put a load of towels in the wash so they’re not in the way in the bathroom, but it doesn’t always happen.’

Kacie does not consider a client leaving their dishes in the sink or clothes on the floor ‘lazy’ because all of her clients have more important things to do in their life than clean

And while some do so in order to help their cleaners out, others have a different motive when tidying their homes.

‘My partner will tidy up before his cleaning lady visits. He doesn’t want to be judged,’ a woman revealed.

‘I would definitely be cleaning my house before the cleaner comes over – it’s so messy!’